New release from Ida...

[Barbirollians]

I've never really understood why she wasn't invited to re-record her repertoire in modern sound but suspect that she was over looked in favour of young up and coming players like Perlman and Zuckermann. I've always felt that she started a renaissance in the mid 70's with the Sibelius,Walton and Britten concertos. Then there was a lukewarm Elgar concerto and I suspect that's where the wheels came off. (I have always thought it curious that she played the violin solo parts in the Previn 'Swan Lake' recording with the LSO. Was this some sort of fulfilling a contract without it costing EMI anything?)

I always felt that she was a violinists violinist and probably hated all the marketing c** p that was starting about that time. Anyway, it's all very sad although I suspect there are many radio tapes hidden away.

I think you are probably right about the reaction to the rather slow Boult Elgar record .

Such a shame - how marvellous it would have been to have had modern stereo studio records of the Beethoven , Brahms, Tchaikovsky, etc .

I am just listening to her 1953 Mendelssohn and 1955 Brahms on Hanssler Classics - amazing recordings for their time and wow what playing especially in the Brahms .

[Barbirollians]

I was interested to read these quotes about her Chaconne record on Presto

“To play to this standard at such an age is little short of miraculous...Her account of Bach's Chaconne, old-fashioned to our ears perhaps, has the sense of an intense personal journey. The technique may no longer be flawless but a lifetime's immersion in music informs every bar.” The Observer, 8th July 2013

“I doubt a profounder realisation of the violin’s expressive capacity is available from a living performer than Haendel’s on this recital disc...Her luxuriant, large-toned, altogether large-minded phrasing, and its minutely meditated inflection, make the music seem constantly surprising, freshly composed” Sunday Times, 14th July 2013

[pastoralguy]

I was interested to read these quotes about her Chaconne record on Presto

“To play to this standard at such an age is little short of miraculous...Her account of Bach's Chaconne, old-fashioned to our ears perhaps, has the sense of an intense personal journey. The technique may no longer be flawless but a lifetime's immersion in music informs every bar.” The Observer, 8th July 2013

“I doubt a profounder realisation of the violin’s expressive capacity is available from a living performer than Haendel’s on this recital disc...Her luxuriant, large-toned, altogether large-minded phrasing, and its minutely meditated inflection, make the music seem constantly surprising, freshly composed” Sunday Times, 14th July 2013

I think that says more about the critics. All I can add to that is my old violin Professor's comment "If you're not playing in tune you're not playing musically".

No one more than me would have LOVED this to be superb but it's not a patch on what, say, Milstein was achieving at that age. For me, the problem with listening to this disc is that I'm just waiting for the next technical flaw to expose itself which does not make for a comfortable listen.

[Barbirollians]

I understand entirely - you are listening not on the basis isn't she doing well for a violinist of 85 but this recording does not do ida Haendel justice .